Edit Step Sequencer steps in Logic Pro

You can edit individual steps in several ways, including cutting, copying, and pasting steps. You can also repeat a step, decrement or increment the values of all steps in a row, transpose all steps in a pattern by semitones or octaves, randomize values for all steps in a row or all steps in the pattern, and reset steps to default values.

Pattern regions can be edited only in the Step Sequencer, not in the other MIDI editors. You can convert a pattern region to a MIDI region, which can be edited in the Tracks area and in the Piano Roll Editor.

Cut a step

In Logic Pro, do one of the following to select the step:
- In any edit mode except for Loop Start/End, Shift-click the step, then choose Edit > Cut (or press Command-X).
- Control-click the step, then choose Cut from the shortcut menu.

When you cut a step, the step value and edit mode settings are cut, but the empty step remains in the step grid. The order of following steps does not change.

Copy and paste a step

You can copy a step, including all of its step settings. When you paste a copied step, the destination row should be of the same row type (note or automation) as the source row. All step settings are copied, with one exception: If the step rate was not edited for that individual step (that is, if it still uses the pattern or row step rate), the pasted step inherits the step rate of the step that it replaces.

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
- In any edit mode except for Loop Start/End, Shift-click the step, then choose Edit > Copy (or press Command-C).
- Control-click the step, then choose Copy from the shortcut menu.
Do one of the following:
- Shift-click the destination step, then choose Edit > Paste (or press Command-V).
- Control-click the destination step, then choose Paste from the shortcut menu.

Repeat a step

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

Shift-click the step to select it, then choose Edit > Repeat Step from the Step Sequencer menu bar.
Control-click the step, then choose Repeat from the shortcut menu.

Raise or lower the value of all steps in the pattern

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

To lower the value of all steps in the pattern: Click the Decrement Value button above the top row header.
To raise the value of all steps in the pattern: Click the Increment Value button above the top row header.

You can also continuously change the value for all steps in the pattern by clicking either button and dragging vertically.

When the edit mode is set to Step On/Off, clicking the Increment Value button turns on all steps, and clicking Decrement Value button turns off all active steps.When the edit mode is set to Tie, clicking the Increment Value button ties all steps (except the last step), and clicking Decrement Value button unties all tied steps.

Raise or lower the values of all steps in a row

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

To lower the value of all steps in a row: Click the Decrement Value button in the row header.
To raise the value of all steps in a row: Click the Increment Value button in the row header.

You can also continuously change the value for all steps in a row by clicking either button and dragging vertically.

Transpose all steps in a pattern

In Logic Pro, choose one of the following from the Functions menu in the Step Sequencer menu bar:

To transpose the pattern up one semitone: Choose Transpose +1 Semitone.
To transpose the pattern down one semitone: Choose Transpose –1 Semitone.
To transpose the pattern up one octave: Choose Transpose +1 Octave.
To transpose the pattern down one octave: Choose Transpose –1 Octave.

Randomize step values for the current edit mode

You can randomize the values for a specific edit mode for a single row, for all note rows or all automation rows, or for all rows in the pattern.

To randomize settings for a row: Select the row, then choose Functions > Randomize Row Values > Current Edit Mode from the Step Sequencer menu bar.
To randomize settings for all note rows: Select the row, then choose Functions > Randomize All Row Values > Current Edit Mode for Note Rows from the Step Sequencer menu bar.
To randomize settings for all automation rows: Select the row, then choose Functions > Randomize All Row Values > Current Edit Mode for Automation Rows from the Step Sequencer menu bar.
To randomize settings for all applicable rows: Choose Functions > Randomize All Row Values > Current Edit Mode from the Step Sequencer menu bar.

Reset row values to default settings

When you create a pattern, many Step Sequencer settings, including all edit modes and the playback mode, have a default value. After you change the value for a step, it no longer retains the default value. You can clear steps, which resets all their edit mode values to default values (for the step rate, the default is defined by the row step rate). You can clear a single step, all steps in a row, or all steps in the pattern. You can also clear the values for the currently selected edit mode in a single row, for all note rows or all automation rows, or for steps in all rows in the pattern.

To clear edit mode values for a step: Shift-click the step to select it, then choose Functions > Clear Step from the Step Sequencer menu bar.
To clear edit mode values for all steps in a row: Select the row, then choose Functions > Clear Row from the Step Sequencer menu bar. Alternatively, you can Control-click the row, then choose Clear Row from the shortcut menu.
To clear edit mode values for all steps in all note rows: Choose Functions > Clear All Row Values > Current Edit Mode for Note Rows from the Step Sequencer menu bar.
To clear edit mode values for all steps in all automation rows: Choose Functions > Clear All Row Values > Current Edit Mode for Automation Rows from the Step Sequencer menu bar.
To clear all steps in the pattern: Choose Functions > Clear Pattern from the Step Sequencer menu bar.

You can also view and edit many step settings in the Step Sequencer inspector.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF

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